OFW Expo for Business and for Christmas

The Mega Balik-bayan Expo and OFW Business Summit 2009 launched last December 11 to 13, 2009 at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall. 

It offers OFWs and general public an opportunity to invest, to start a business, and to grow their money and livelihood. On its 6th year, Mega Balik-bayan Expo and OFW Summit continue its mission of educating OFWs and Balik-bayans on how can they prepare for their future by investing through business and entrepreneurship.

The three-day event showcased different business opportunities, investment tools available in the market using the most effective person-to-person conference and exhibition that greatly reward and benefit the OFWs. It also featured Tour and Hotel Destinations for those who wanted to experience the wonders of the Philippines and start a business with travel.

Moreover, the event presented a business congress which plays as a learning venue for different OFW groups, associations, government and private entities—which also provide networking opportunities essential in moving-up the economic development.

OFW Expo aims to display the widest possible range of gift ideas, including the latest designs in clothing and fashion, winter sports articles and equipment, games and toys, beauty and cosmetics, food and beverages, all sorts of gift items and a variety of Christmas and holiday decorations, making the event the ideal place for any type of retail and wholesale exhibitor.

Exhibitor on the said event include: Realty & Investment companies, Training & Consultancy Firms, Franchising Companies, Dealership & Distributorship Companies, Food Companies, food Suppliers Companies, Food Equipment and Gadgets, Technology Companies, Office Machines & Equipments, Small Office Solutions, Direct Selling Companies, Multi-level Marketing Companies, fashion and crafts (as featured & selected only), Gift items & regional Product, other Christmas products.

Capturing and Protecting the Beauty of Subic

In an effort to promote the Subic Bay’s beauty and its role as a common resource, as well as to enjoin the people in protecting and preserving it, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)organized the first ever Subic Bay Water Summit Photo Contest.

Opened to all amateur and professional photographers, the contest required entries that were taken at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone from Oct. 19 to Nov. 16, carrying the contest theme “Subic Bay: Our Common Resource, Our Common Responsibility.” Up for grabs were cash prizes for the first to third placers, and five consolation prizes of gift certificates. Certificates of Appreciation were also given to the participants.

Winners were awarded last Nov. 27 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center at the Subic Bay Freeport, with Mr. Johann Ong bagging the first place, taking home the grand prize of Php15,000. Mr. Ong also won four of the five consolation prizes.

Uplifting the Lives of Filipino Children

World Vision Philippines, an nongovernmental advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and social injustice, organized the National Stakeholder’s Summit on the Well-Being of Children (NSSWC) last Aug. 3–5.

The summit gathered individuals and groups from different branches of governments, civil societies, media, faith-bases organizations, and religious congregations for an in-depth look at the current situation of Filipino children.

Ms. Elnora Avarientos, executive director of World Vision Philippines, said in an interview that they are currently working with the Department of Health and the Department of Education with some of their projects, including some nutritional programs.

According to Ms. Avarientos, taking care of the children means that their futures are already defined and that they (World Vision) “hope to urge other institutions to do their part so we can lessen the burden of the children.”

Ms. Avarientos has already worked with the Ethiopian chapter of World Vision, and she said that she was “aghast” upon seeing the television segment of broadcast journalist Ms. Karen Davila on ABS-CBN about the plight of malnourished children in the Philippines.

For her part, Ms. Davila, a World Vision ambassador and child sponsor herself, said that education is an integral part of upholding children’s welfare and that if the children could not understand and absorb the lessons taught in school, then that is already a telltale sign of malnutrition. Ms. Davila also stressed the importance of synergism between the media and organizations such as World Vision to better inform the public of the current state of Filipino children and what they could, as citizens, do to help.

Aside from poor nutrition, topics covered in the three-day summit included the lack of early childhood care services, limited access to quality education, degradation of moral values, little participation of children in governance and community development, exposure to hazardous environments and health threats, and increasing cases of domestic violence and exploitation.

Also discussed were the ways and means to identify these major threats and how to address and/or eliminate these situations, as well as finding ways to work together for the benefit of children.

For more information regarding the NSSWC, please visit the World Vision website or call telephone number (02) 372-7777.